Westside at Buttercup Creek

Westside news Volume 6, Number 12

Official Newsletter of the Westside at Buttercup Creek HOA

December 2015

NATUREWATCH: WINTRY WONDERS

by Jim and Lynne Weber As temperatures cool further ‘hoar’ comes from an Old English adjective meaning ‘showing signs and autumn turns to winter, of old age’, and refers to the frost making the vegetation look like it our thoughts turn to visions of has grown white hair. When hoar frost forms on objects above the ice and snow. From first frost to surface, like branches and leaves, it has a feathery-like appearance ice storms to snow storms, these and is specifically called air hoar. frozen precipitation events are Snow, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. When sporadic in Central Texas, but a cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle high in when they occur, they can also the sky, it creates an ice crystal. As this primary crystal falls toward be spectacular! the ground, more water vapor freezes on it, building new crystals How does frost, this sparkling layer that sometimes covers the that form the six characteristic arms of a snowflake. This process landscape, form? When the temperature of the air reaches a point of crystallization builds in a symmetrical or patterned way, because where the water vapor in it can condense out into water, it is called it reflects the internal order of the water molecules as they arrange the dew point. The frost point is when the dew point falls below themselves in pre-determined spaces to form the six-sided snowflake. freezing, and rather than producing dew, it creates frost. Consisting The most significant factor that determines the basic shape of of tiny, spike-like crystal structures called ‘spicules’ that grow out from the ice crystal is the temperature at which it forms, and to a lesser a solid surface, frost generally forms on surfaces that are colder than degree humidity. The intricate shape of a single arm of a snowflake the surrounding air. Even the size of the crystals can vary, depending is determined by these atmospheric conditions as the entire crystal upon the amount of time they took to grow, the relative changes in falls. As slight changes in temperature and humidity occur minutes temperature, and the amount of water vapor available. or even seconds later, a crystal that begin to grow in one way might Cold air is denser than warm air, so quite often when night skies then change and branch off in a new direction. Since all six arms of are clear and calm, lower areas become colder due to differences in a snowflake experience the same changes in atmospheric conditions, elevation. Known as surface temperature inversion, this phenomenon they all grow identically. And since individual snowflakes encounter forms ‘frost pockets’ or areas where frost forms first, due to cold slightly different atmospheric conditions as they take different paths air trapped against the ground. On such days, there can be a 40 to the ground, they all tend to look unique, resembling everything to 50 degree difference in air temperature between dawn and early from simple prisms and needles to intricately faceted plates and afternoon. Getting out early can reward you with a rare and wonderful stellar dendrites. spectacle of nature when something called ‘hoar frost’ is formed. On the surface, winter may seem as if nature is shutting down Referring to white ice crystals that are deposited on the ground around us, but take the time for a second look. Aside from the or loosely attached to exposed objects such as leaves and branches, visual beauty they provide, the frosts and snows of the season are just hoar frost forms on cold, clear nights when heat radiates out to the another part of the ongoing cycle of life and renewal for our native open sky faster than it can be replaced by nearby sources such as plants and animals. wind. This allows objects in the landscape to cool below the frost Send your nature-related questions to naturewatch@austin. point of the surrounding air, and well below the freezing point of rr.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. Check out our blog at water. Hoar frost can form in low-lying cold air even when the air naturewatchaustin.blogspot.com if you enjoy reading these articles! temperature a few feet above ground is well above freezing. The name Copyright © 2015 Peel, Inc.

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Westside at Buttercup Creek BOARD OF DIRECTORS Walt Conlin............................................................ President Dawn Harris....................................................... V. President David Jackson..........................................................Secretary Denny James........................................................... Treasurer Dennis Domanski ....................................................Director HOA WEBSITE www.westsidehoa.org

MANAGEMENT INFO Celeste Starr Schulz - Property Manager Goodwin Management Office: 512-852-7922 Fax: 512-346-4873 Celeste.Schulz@Goodwintx.com

NEWSLETTER INFO EDITOR Joey Surls...................... communications@westsidehoa.org PUBLISHER Peel, Inc....................................................... 512-263-9181 Advertising............................... advertising@PEELinc.com

At no time will any source be allowed to use the Westside News contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from Peel, Inc. The information in the Westside News is exclusively for the private use of the Westside at Buttercup Creek HOA and Peel, Inc. DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser. * The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising. * Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction. * Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

ADVERTISING INFO Please support the businesses that advertise in the Westside News. Their advertising dollars make it possible for all Westside at Buttercup Creek residents to receive the monthly newsletter at no charge. No homeowners association funds are used to produce or mail the newsletters. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512-263-9181 or advertising@PEELinc.com. The advertising deadline is the 8th of each month for the following month's newsletter.

COMMITTEES Do you want to help out in the community but don’t have a lot of time? Join one of the following Committees and help out as much or as little as you want. Neighborhood Watch - Vacant..neighborhoodwatch@westsidehoa.org Modifications - Denney James ............ modifications@westsidehoa.org Social - Nancy Townsend & Janet Theriault......social@westsidehoa.org Pools - Darrell Park.............................................pools@westsidehoa.org Fences - Chris Bardash.......................................fences@westsidehoa.org Landscaping - Vacant...................... landscaping@westsidehoa.org Caves & Preserves - Darrell Park....cavesandpreserves@westsidehoa.org Lighting - Vacant.................................. lighting@westsidehoa.org 2

Westside News - December 2015

Infant & Toddler Care • Pre-K • After-School

Westside at Buttercup Creek

TENNIS TIPS

By USPTA/PTR Master Professional Fernando Velasco

HOW TO EXECUTE THE FOREHAND VOLLEY In previous newsletters, I offered tips on how to hit a forehand groundstroke, a two-handed backhand and a one-handed backhand. In this issue, I will give you instructions on how to execute a forehand volley for a right hander. This stroke is used whenever the player is forced to hit a ball in the air. In these pictures Grey Rock Tennis Club player, Camille Palafox, demonstrates the proper form and technique. Photos by her husband Charlie Palafox. Step 1: Ready Position: The body is facing the net. The right hand is holding the end of the racket in a forehand grip position and the left hand is next to the right hand. The left hand is holding the racket slightly tighter than the right hand. Feet are a shoulder width apart and the body is in equal balance. For beginners it is okay to use the forehand and backhand grips for the forehand and backhand volleys. As the player gets stronger and the balls come at a faster speed, it will be best to use the continental grip for both volleys. Step 2: Back Swing: Since the volley is usually executed when a player is close to the net and there is very little time to react to the incoming ball, the back swing is very short. The right arm should

take a short turn and the head of the racket should align to the flight of the ball. The right wrist should be “cocked” back slightly and the head of the racket should be above the wrist. Eyes are still focused on the incoming ball. Here I am helping Camille to feel the hand on the racket to tilt back and still keep the head of the racket above her wrist. Step 3: Point of Contact: The right foot is now taking a step forward and the racket is making contact with the ball. It is important to keep the left shoulder closed and not rotate the right hip too early. Flexing the right knee will allow more flexibility to find the proper point of contact and give power to the ball. Step 4: Follow Through: Once the racket has made contact with the ball, the follow through is very short to allow the player to immediately get back to the ready position. The left arm should be close to the body. Look for in the next Newsletter: The Two-Handed Backhand Volley

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Westside at Buttercup Creek

RING IN THE NEW YEAR FOR A GREAT COMMUNITY CAUSE Get your dancing shoes on, brush up on your black jack skills, and get your tickets to join Llano Parks Project at their first formal fundraising event, The Antler Drop Ball, at Horseshoe Bay Resort on December 31, 2015, from 7 pm – 12:30 am. This first-class event will include dinner, dancing, casino tables, silent and live auctions, as well as a champagne toast to ring in 2016. Auction items include adventures such as an Alaskan fishing trip, a Hill Country white-tail deer hunt, and a beach vacation to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Other goods in the auction will include a personal training workout at Nomad Strength, Kendra Scott jewelry, Tiffany & Company jewelry, tickets to a Texas Aggie football game, and many more. Llano Parks Project will use 100% of The Antler Drop Ball net proceeds to benefit the Badu Park (Llano, Texas) developments of a zero-depth children’s splash pad and a dock for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing in the Llano River. For more information about The Antler Drop Ball, please visit

www.llanoparksproject.org. Tickets, table sponsorships, and group rate hotel rooms are limited and are going fast. They can be purchased on the Llano Parks Project’s website. Join Llano Parks Project to help build parks for the community and future generations. WHO IS LLANO PARKS PROJECT? Llano Parks Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2013. Our mission is to restore and develop park and recreation facilities within Llano County. Long-term plans include many projects that will benefit both individuals and businesses in our community. In two years, we have improved two parks with new play equipment and the retaining wall/sandy beach area on the Llano River in town. The future success of our organization, this event, and the many projects that we have planned depends on the generosity and support of our community leaders and those who believe in our organization.

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Westside News - December 2015

Westside at Buttercup Creek

Hitting the slopes this ski season? Keep in mind these tips to prevent injuries on the slopes. Written by Kelly Cunningham, MD Sports Medicine specialist Founder. Austin OrthoBiologics. As a former US Olympic Men’s Ski Team physician and orthopedist, every year during the winter months I treat many ski & snowboard injuries. As traveling doctor for the team, I accompanied the athletes throughout the US, Canada and Europe on the World Cup tour and was responsible for the triage, stabilization, and treatment of these world-class skiers. One of the most frequent questions I get this time of year from my patients who ski is “How can I avoid hurting myself on the ski slopes?” So what do I tell recreational skiers about staying healthy while on the slopes? First and foremost, adjust to the altitude in your first few days. While there are medications that will improve your blood oxygen, they require a prescription and can have side effects. Perhaps the easiest to take along are low-dose aspirin or ginko biloba, as both are safe (unless allergic) and easy to take. Low-level exercise and lots of water (especially during the first night) are also key, as is abstinence from alcohol during the first 24 hours at altitude. Modern skis, boots, and bindings are universally safe now, unlike in

decades past. Multi-release bindings help you come out of your skis safely in a fall and with less stress on your knees, the most commonly injured joint in a skier. Make sure they are set correctly. Speaking of knees, in most solid, intermediate skiers, unlike beginners (learning to stop) and racers (ACL injury from shear forces), serious knee injuries are actually quite rare. The best way to protect yourself from ski injury is: • get in good “ski-shape” • ski within your limits • stay relaxed but focused • watch out for that last, fatigued run of the afternoon • if you fall, fall forward and throw your hands in front of you And always, always, wear a helmet! Austin resident Kelly Cunningham, MD is board certified by the American College of Orthopedic Surgeons, and an active member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Cartilage Repair Society . Learn more about preventing and treating sports injuries at www.AustinOrthoBio.com.

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Westside News - December 2015

Westside at Buttercup Creek $50,000 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Awarded to Dell Children’s Medical Center The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-powered and donorcentered charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, is proud to award a one-year, $50,000 grant to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. This grant is one of 33 infrastructure grants awarded as part of the Foundation’s fall grant cycle, totaling $2 million. This grant will enable the Children’s Blood & Cancer Center (CBCC) Clinical Research Department to oversee patient clinical trial participation in a more organized and efficient manner. Grant funds will be used to develop a new database system and enable the hospital to hire a database coordinator who will streamline the data collection process, store data more efficiently and provide statistics and reports to Seton and other organizations across the nation. “The number of children diagnosed with cancer at the CBCC has more than tripled since 1998,” says Dr. Amy Fowler, pediatric hermatology and oncology specialist with Dell Children’s. “We continuously face the financial challenge of doing more with less, so this grant is helping saves lives now and in future generations.”

This series of grants, combined with the more than $21.2 million awarded in July to fund cutting-edge research, brings the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s funding total to $23 million awarded in 2015. Grants were awarded based on the need of the institution and its patients, anticipated results of the grant and local participation in St. Baldrick’s fundraising events and activities. “The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is excited to fund this latest round of grants, which will give much needed support to multiple pediatric cancer treatment teams across the U.S.,” said Kathleen Ruddy, chief executive officer of St. Baldrick’s. “These grants will improve the capacity of the institutions to do more research, enroll more children in cutting-edge clinical trials and complete studies that are in progress. These grants would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers and generous donors who believe that kids deserve better than the toxic medicines that are currently available which all too often harm developing bodies and create lifelong, life-threatening health problems.”

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Westside News - December 2015